Fabric Treatment Device

ABSTRACT

A device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition and a transfer surface to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in that the transfer surface when attached to a fixing surface of the tumble dryer is inclined outwardly toward the interior of the dryer and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane.

The present invention relates to a device for treating fabrics inside a tumble dryer.

In the treatment of fabrics in a tumble dryer it is known to use conditioner dispensing articles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device suitable for treatment fabrics in a tumble dryer.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition and a transfer surface to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in that the transfer surface when attached to a fixing surface of the tumble dryer is inclined outwardly toward the interior of the dryer and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane.

In a further aspect, according to the invention there is provided a method of treating fabrics in a tumble dryer during multiple tumble drying cycles using a device according to the first aspect of the invention comprising attaching the device to a fixing surface on the inside of a tumble dryer, preferably a non-rotating surface and more preferably the door such that the transfer surface when attached to the fixing surface is inclined outwardly and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane, and carrying out a tumble drying process with fabrics inside the tumble dryer.

Preferably the device is fixed in a central region of the fixing surface.

In addition, according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for the treatment of fabrics in a tumble drying cycle, comprising the combination of the device of the first aspect of the invention having any/all of the above preferred features, together with a fabric treatment composition which may be contained in a reservoir suitable for use with said device.

Instructions for use of the device according to the above described method, preferably including installation/refilling of said reservoir according to the above method, may be included with the device or kit.

Further provided in accordance with the invention is a tumble dryer with a device according to the invention attached to a fixing surface on the inside of the tumble dryer, preferably a non-rotating surface and more preferably the door such that the transfer surface when attached to the fixing surface is inclined outwardly and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane.

With this arrangement, the frequency of physical contact between fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle and the transfer surface increases so that the fabrics are more evenly treated with the composition. Therefore softening, anti-static and fragrance benefits can be delivered more efficiently.

A further advantage is that the increased frequency of physical contact can at least reduce the potential for excess amounts of the composition to build up at the transfer surface. This can occur where the fabric conditioning composition is a liquid (at tumble drying i.e. high temperature) which flows to transfer surface e.g. under gravity. This build up has the negative impact in that it can result in excess delivery of the composition when a fabric finally contacts the window, resulting in deposition of large amounts of the formulation on to the fabrics. This can result in consumer perceivable localised concentration of the composition on fabrics and lower than expected performance in so far as e.g. softening, anti-static and fragrance benefits.

Preferably the whole of the transfer surface is inclined as described above. This means that the frequency of physical contact between fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle and the transfer surface increases for the whole of the transfer surface. Thus there is less likelihood that localised areas of the transfer surface suffer from excess composition build up as described above.

The transfer surface is preferably inclined 5°-40° and more preferably 15°-35° relative to a vertical plane and further preferably it is inclined 20°-25° relative to a vertical plane.

The inclination of the transfer surface relative to a longitudinal axis or plane of the device may be the same as the above described inclination.

The transfer surface may be convex or concaved however, it is preferably flattened, and more preferably flat to further increase the frequency of physical contact between fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle and the whole of the transfer surface.

The inclination of the transfer surface may be such that the surface may project to a maximum at its base, wherein the base comprises the lower part of the device when it is fixed in position in the dryer.

The transfer surface may form part of the reservoir which may be a removable from (for replacement or refilling) or integral with a body portion of the device. In this case, the reservoir may comprise one or more portions e.g. a perimeter portion surrounding the transfer surface, whose inclination corresponds with e.g. is the same as, the inclination of the transfer surface.

The transfer surface may comprise a solid surface or it may comprise a configuration of separate elements arranged together e.g. in a pattern, array or the like to provide the surface.

The transfer surface may be provided as an outer surface of a transfer member e.g. a compressed foam which is charged with composition. Compressed foam takes less time to charge (fill up) with composition, and so is effective more quickly after initial installation. The transfer surface may be an outer layer of a multi-layer transfer member.

The device may include reservoir charging means comprising one or more charging conduits for directing fabric treatment composition to one or more regions of the transfer surface. The reservoir charging conduits may be defined by one or more recesses or projections e.g. projecting ribs or an arrangement of corresponding peaks and troughs, wherein the area between ribs/ recesses/troughs define conduits or channels which direct the fabric treatment composition to selected parts of the transfer means.

The reservoir may hold sufficient fabric composition for any number of drying cycles and for instance the reservoir may hold sufficient composition for a single cycle. With this arrangement, different compositions could be used for different drying cycles allowing great flexibility for the user.

The reservoir of the device of the invention may alternatively or additionally be capable of holding sufficient fabric treatment composition for a plurality of drying cycles of the tumble drier.

The device according to the invention may comprise a reservoir which is designed to be replaced when the fabric treatment composition is used up. For example, the reservoir may be provided in the form of a disposable plastic container e.g. bottle, carton or collapsible pouch which may have a peelable lid.

Alternatively, the reservoir may be designed to be recharged with a new fabric treatment composition when required.

The fabric treatment composition may be in the form of a liquid, solid or gel. Where a solid or gel is used, this may be liquid at operating temperatures of the dryer. The composition preferably comprises at least a perfume component and optionally water and may also comprise one or more perfume solubilisers. In this way the composition can act as a freshening composition.

Various non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to one aspect of the invention (reservoir and transfer means not shown);

FIGS. 2 a-2 c are side views of embodiments of the invention showing the inclination of the delivery window;

FIG. 3 is a enlarged view of the reservoir charging means of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 a-4 g are views of the reservoir for the device of FIG. 1.

Similar reference numbers are used throughout the figures to identify common features.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a device 1 (shown orientated upright and viewed in perspective) for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer (not shown) during multiple tumble drying cycles, the device comprising a support member 2 and a reservoir 6 (shown in FIGS. 4 a-4 g) for storing fabric treatment composition; transfer surface (not shown in FIG. 1) to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir 6 to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle.

The device includes reservoir charging means 301 comprising one or more charging conduits for directing fabric treatment composition to one or more regions of the transfer means (generally indicated at 300).

The hemispherical dome shape of the device is modified by inclining the portion housing the transfer means 300 outwardly, so that in use (i.e. attached to an upright tumble dryer door or wall) the transfer means 300 is orientated upright.

The device has a transfer means 300 comprises two flow control members: an outer compressed foam layer providing the transfer surface and an inner delicate but precise flow control member (outer member shown at 300, inner member not shown but located directly behind outer member). The inner flow control member is a polypropylene membrane with a thickness of 160 microns and a pore size of 0.2 microns. However other thickness/pore size values may be used, the appropriate pore size and thickness of the membrane varying depending on the fabric treatment composition viscosity, and the delivery rate required.

The compressed foam of the transfer surface has a compression ratio (or ‘firmness’) of 8, having been pre-compressed (before fitting to the device )from an initial thickness of 42 mm to a compressed thickness of 6 mm. The foam has an (initial, i.e. pre-compression) pore size (PPI, pores per liner inch) of 80 ppi. The foam is a polyester foam the density of the foam material is 0.383 g/cm³=kg/m³ (=23.9 pounds per cubic foot.).

The foam and membrane 300 are fixed around their perimeters preferably by ultrasonic welds and preferably, to enable a better seal (for the purpose of preventing leaking of the fabric treatment composition), by a substantially continuous weld, to a window frame in a lower part of the device(not shown in FIG. 1 but window area indicated at 300).

The lower part of the device including the foam transfer surface 300 are inclined outwardly such that when the device is attached centrally to the inside of the tumble dryer door, which is generally upright and in this case vertical, the foam transfer surface and preferably the surrounding parts of the device are inclined 25 degrees (angle a in FIG. 2 a) to the longitudinal axis of the device which is aligned with the upright axis of the door. The foam is a heavily flattened convex shape, having only minimum curvature. The maximum projection occurs at the base of the device. This inclination increases the physical contact between fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle and the transfer surface.

The transfer surface may alternatively be convex as in FIG. 2 b or flat as in FIG. 2 c.

Optionally, the inlet port 52, is integral with the window frame, again, to enable a leak proof system. The manufacture of the framed membrane involves melting upstanding ribs on the frame by ultrasonic welding so as to weld these to the perimeter of the membrane. The framed membrane is attached to the support member 2(by the ultrasonic welding which is done with the port/frame/membrane in situ in the device body).

The area inside of the welded perimeter provides the effective flow control area that is to say the active part of the flow control members.

In the embodiments shown, the area is 40×27 mm=1080 mm². Another embodiments (not shown) may have has larger area of 50×27 mm=1350 mm², or larger still, Such as 80×30=2400 mm². Preferably the effective part of the transfer means has an area in the range 500-5000 mm².

Behind the members is a recess of corresponding shape which has a slightly projecting perimeter region for attachment of the frame thereto, so that a gap is defined between the inner member and the recess wall. In this narrow gap approximately 2-3 mm, a small amount of freshener fluid can collect to ‘charge’ or ‘feed’ the members continuously without causing leakage's.

The reservoir charging means 301 comprises a recess behind the transfer means 300, and includes a combination of parallel and radially arranged projecting ribs which define reservoir charging conduits (between adjacent ribs)function to deliver fabric treatment composition to all parts, including the periphery of transfer means 300, preventing blocking of any parts of the transfer means. The ribs 60 also function to assist priming or charging of the device quickly (ie. When using the device initially). Alternatively, or additionally the reservoir charging means could include a similar arrangement of recesses to define the charging conduits.

Reservoir 6 is attachable to said support member or device housing 2, the support member 2 including attachment means 2 comprising a strip of repositionable fastener material e.g. hook and loop or mushroom head type e.g. Velcro™ (not shown). A strip of corresponding repositionable fastener material is also attached to the interior of the dryer for attachment of the support member 2 to the tumble dryer door.

The support member 2 is a generally hemispherical rigid element with a circular periphery 14 approximately 100 mm in diameter.

Some modern tumble dryers have a one or more small holes in the inside of the door to allow moisture out of the tumble dryer drum to condense in a tray below or vented to the outside of the machine. In this case, a hook or claw attachment on the device is included for supplemental attachment (not shown).

The reservoir 6 comprises a rigid dome shaped body 20 housing a reservoir bottle 22 configured for snap-fit engagement in recess 50 of support member 2. The reservoir recess 50 constitutes a major part of the upper half of the member 2 (‘upper’ when orientated upright).

The reservoir 6 is attachable to the support member 2 so as to lock into position.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 1, the reservoir body 20 includes a chamber or inlet port 52, having a capacity to hold a predetermined volume of fluid freshener, which is, in this embodiment 1.5 ml and is sufficient for one drying cycle of 1 hour at 60 degrees C. However, the inlet port may have a volume sufficient for any number of cycles. The port 52 is located beneath (when the device is held oriented as shown in FIG. 1—as it would be in use) and in fluid communication with the reservoir recess 50 to allow liquid to enter the port 52 from the reservoir bottle 22 when it is in place in the recess 50.

The rear of the device (not shown) is recessed and also contains a hook 300 for supplemental attachment to the tumble dryer door of e.g. condenser dryers (which have slots or holes in the door or pitted surface). One possible hook shape is shown comprising an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot through about 90 degrees, between a storage position in which the hook is enclosed within the rear recess and an attachment position in which it projects from the device. The hook is curved only where it connects with the device—it is straight at the opposite end, as the gentle curve blocks the removal of the machine filter in some machines, so needs to be removed from the design for such machines.

As shown in FIGS. 4 a-4 g, the reservoir bottle 22 comprises a polypropylene bottle with body portion and neck portion 214. The body portion is defined by three main generally crescent shaped faces: a front face 222 and a rear face 224 and a shoulder face 226. The front and rear faces 222,224, extend from opposed edges of the shoulder face 226 and depend therefrom to meet at a common curved edge 228. The radius of curvature of the rear face 224 is less than that of the front face 222.

The reservoir recess 50, has a curved back wall 51, base wall 53 and top wall or lip 55 which correspond in shape with the rear face 222 shoulder face 226 and edge 228 respectively so that the reservoir is retained in the recess by the walls 53,55, and by the engagement of the neck portion 214 with the port 52. The neck is configured for engagement with the inlet port 52, taking into account of any seals: The inlet port 52 may include an annular resilient seal of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) to ensure leak proof engagement of the reservoir bottle 22 with the port 52.

The reservoir bottle 22 preferably has a pin-hole (not shown) in an upper region e.g. the edge region or front face or back surface so that as fluid freshener leaves the bottle it can be replaced with air, gradually, so as not to interfere with the gradual flow of the fluid to the membrane. This has the advantage of ensuring consistency in delivery of composition.

Insertion and removal is aided by limited flexibility of the refill bottle 22 and support member 2 such that snap-fit installation and removal can be effected easily.

In use the reservoir is disposed with the neck pointing downwards, engaging the inlet port so that fluid from the reservoir flows, under gravity to the port and then to the members from where it evaporates/transfers in the dryer.

The fabric treatment composition may take any suitable form, for example it may be as described in any of the following embodiments (e.g. solid, liquid, gel at room temperature). 

1. A device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition and a transfer surface to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in that the transfer surface when attached to a fixing surface of the tumble dryer is inclined outwardly toward the interior of the dryer and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the inclination is 5°-45°.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the inclination is 15°-35°.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the inclination is 20°-25°.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the transfer surface is flattened.
 6. A method of treating fabrics in a tumble dryer during multiple tumble drying cycles using a device according to claim 1, the comprising the steps of attaching the device to a fixing surface on the inside of a tumble dryer, preferably a non-rotating surface and more preferably the door such that the transfer surface when attached to the fixing surface is inclined outwardly and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane, and carrying out a tumble drying process with fabrics inside the tumble dryer.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the device is fixed in a central region of the fixing surface.
 8. A kit for the treatment of fabrics in a tumble drying cycle, comprising the combination of the device of claim 1 together with a fabric treatment composition which is contained in a reservoir suitable for use with said device.
 9. A kit according to claim 8 further including instructions for use of the device.
 10. A tumble dryer with a device according to the invention attached to a fixing surface on the inside of the tumble dryer, preferably a non-rotating surface and more preferably the door such that the transfer surface when attached to the fixing surface is inclined outwardly and 0°-45° relative to a vertical plane. 